A total lunar eclipse has been observed from across the United States, an event that experts have classified as historic, rarely an astronomical event of these characteristics can be seen from across the country.
Francisco Andolz, mission director for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, explained that the event is “very special” because it occurs when “the Moon is passing through Earth’s shadow”.
“A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth, Sun and Moon are aligned in such a way that the Earth’s shadow will completely cover the Moon”, explained a scientist at one of the headquarters of the National Administration for Aeronautics and Space in the United States. (NASA) in.
Why does the moon turn red?
During the event observed this morning in the North American country, it has become possible to see how the color of the Moon changed from white to a more reddish hue. According to Andolz, there is an explanation for all this.
“During this period of total eclipse, the Moon turns red in color and this is because the sunset and sunrise on Earth at that time are reflected by the Moon,” he said.
The phenomenon has also been observed in Latin America.
The lunar eclipse has been fully observed from the United States, but it is not the only region in the world that has had the opportunity to view it. From the Lesser Antilles, the phenomenon has also been observed in parts of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela and Peru.
lunar eclipse before returning to the moon
The lunar eclipse comes days before the launch of the Artemis I mission, which is scheduled for November 14 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
This is all part of a project that aims to return to the Moon fifty years after the Apollo missions.
On 20 July 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the Moon. The last time such a mission was done was 50 years ago, but now a NASA team is working on the project to analyze lunar soil conditions to establish the basis for future trips to Mars.
“We are going with a lot more security. All materials and technology are moving forward and it is much safer to go to the Moon now”, assured Fernando Carcaboso, scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
This time they won’t be sent to people, but this is one of the first test flights to make sure all protocols work correctly. “Humans were on the lunar surface 50 years ago and with Artemis we are putting human feet back on the Moon,” Andolz said.
There are no humans on board these first voyages, although there will be approximately 55 kg of luggage used by the Apollo 11 astronauts and three mannequins, one of them as a tribute to the Hispanic.
“In honor of Mexican-American engineer Arturo Campos, who played a key role in rescuing the astronauts of the failed Apollo 13 mission,” revealed Rosa Ivalos Warren, manager of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
It is predicted that this will not happen until at least 2024, when a human will return to the Moon. And history will be made again. Because the first lady and the first person of color will be sent.
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